The EU affirmed its firm support for the ICC and condemned U.S. sanctions as a threat to judicial independence and justice.

European Commission Director Ursula von der Leyen said the EU "deeply regrets" the sanctions imposed by four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on four judges Thursday, accusing them of "illegal and unfounded actions" against the United States and its allies.

Responding to Friday's announcement, Von der Leyen said the Hague-based court received "full support" from the EU.

"The International Criminal Court (ICC) holds the account of the perpetrators of the world's worst crimes and gives voice to the victims," ​​Von der Leyen said on X on Friday. "The freedom of action must be done without pressure."

Volker Turk, the head of human rights at the UN, said he was "deeply troubled" by the U.S. decision.

"At the national or international level, an attack on the judicial function of judges directly opposes respect for the rule of law and equal protection of the law - values ​​that the United States has long stood for."

"This attack is deeply corrosive to good governance and proper judicial administration," he added, calling for the lifting of sanctions.

European Council President Antonio Costa, representing the national governments of 27 EU member states, also called the courts "the cornerstone of international justice" and said that their independence and integrity must be protected.

The committee fully supports @intlcrimcourt and its officials.

The International Criminal Court has taken the world's worst offenders to perpetrators and voiced the victims.

Must move freely without pressure.

We will always represent respect for global justice and international law.

-Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 6, 2025

The U.S. State Department said the sanctions were sentenced to arrest warrants in 2020 and a separate decision in 2020 demanding an investigation into suspected war crimes by U.S. military in Afghanistan, the State Department said.

Four sanctioned judges include Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Caranza of Peru, Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.

EU member Slovenia said this “rejects pressure from the judiciary” and urges the EU to use its blocking regulations.

"Slovenia will propose to immediately activate the Block Act," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia said in an article published on X.

The mechanism has caused the EU to prohibit European companies from complying with what Brussels considers illegal. The power has been used in the past to prevent Washington from banning trade with Cuba and Iran.

Slovenia regrets the U.S. government's sanctions on four judges announced @intlcrimcourt including from #slovenia. Si🇸🇮 Rejects pressure from the judiciary and its impact on judicial action, and the court must act in the interests of law and justice. pic.twitter.com/xhwbj8xemz

- MFEA Slovenia (@mzez_rs) June 5, 2025

U.S. sanctions mean that judges are added to the list of individuals specifically designated to approve. Any U.S. assets they own will be blocked and not only by Bank of America, but also by many banks around the world use automatic screening services, which makes it difficult for recognized people to hold or open bank accounts or transfer currency.

This is not the first time that the United States has imposed restrictions on ICC officials since Trump returned to his second term on January 20.

Shortly after taking office, Trump issued a broad executive order threatening anyone participating in the ICC investigation to impose sanctions. Critics warn that such exhaustive language can distort the process of justice by persuading witnesses to present evidence.

But Trump argues that Netanyahu's 2024 arrest warrant and former Israeli Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant need to take such measures.

He also claimed that the United States and Israel were “a booming democracies” that strictly abide by the laws of war”, and that the ICC investigation threatened military members’ “harassment, abuse and possible arrests.”